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Tag Archives: how do I wear a cold shoulder top?

By far, the most significant summer trend this season is the myriad of shoulder bearing tops. Ladies, it is time to show your shoulders. The great news is that we women can heartily accept this trend because, for most of us, the shoulders are one of our best features. They don’t show fat, and bearing them draws attention upward toward your face rather than downward.

There are a myriad of options for shoulder bearing from the cold shoulder top that has cut outs at the shoulder to the off the shoulder top that is worn down on the arms One of the biggest issues with tops that show the whole shoulder area is the question of a bra. Many women are just not willing to go bra-less and, let’s face it, strapless bras leave a lot to be desired. With all the fiddling and re-positioning that has to happen, it is high maintenance fashion. Personally, I’d just rather not.

If you feel this way too, may I suggest a bandeau (see picture below). These little fashion wonders are a great option. They are essentially a spandex style strapless band that is lined and goes around your bust area. They work as a solution for any top that cannot be worn with a traditional bra. We have bandeaus from Nikibiki at our store that are one size and just stretch to fit. My guess is they will not work for large busted women, but if you are an A cup to a C cup, they should work just fine.

If you are D cup or larger, you may be stuck wearing a strapless bra to get the support you need. I like the strapless bras that have the ability to add clear plastic straps. These essentially disappear against your skin while still providing the stability of a strap. One other option is to use the Silicone Cover Ups from Hollywood Fashion. We have sold these in the store and have had great customer feedback about them. These cover ups are silicone pads that stick to the front of your nipple area to cover it so you have the confidence to go bra-less.

Thus, don’t let the issue of a bra keep you from trying out the seasons hottest trends. Give these three solutions a try until you find one that works for you, and make sure you bare those shoulders this season.

Customer: “I’m looking for a top with…well…I don’t know what you call it….you know, where the shoulders are cut out?

Sales Clerk: “Oh, you mean, you want a cold shoulder top?”

Customer: “No, I don’t want cold shoulders. I want the tops where there are holes for the shoulders.”

Sales Clerk: “Yes, that’s called a cold shoulder top.”

Customer: “Oh….” nodding her head in understanding. “I get it.”

I can’t tell you how many times I have had this conversation or something like it this season. The “cold shoulder” trend is everywhere and can be found in tops, sweaters, dresses and tunics. Even the missy lines are joining the bandwagon with cut out tops – styles that have portions cut out but not necessarily the shoulders. It’s a fun new twist on fashion this season, even if its a bit hard to describe to the sales clerk.

I had a customer just last week that, after seeing how many items in the store had some form of cut out, decided she should try this trend for the first time. She came out in a lovely cold shoulder sweater that had relatively small cut outs and just stared at herself in the mirror blankly. “Do you like it?” I asked

“Well….I feel….exposed.” She said quietly.

“I know. It’s a bit hard to get used to, but think of it this way…your shoulders are a great part of your body to show.”

I went on to explain that while our necks and arms show wrinkles, our shoulders oftentimes do not. Thus, exposing the shoulders really makes a lot of sense. It shows a bit of skin which is always appealing if its done tastefully, and it is exposing a part of the body that is still flattering on most women even into their sixties. My customer thought that made a lot of sense and decided to buy the sweater she had on. I hope she’s getting used to feeling “exposed.”

I see the cold shoulder trend as somewhat transient, but I think the cut out tops will be fashionable for many years to come. If you want to give this trend a try but feel unsure of baring your shoulders, look for a style with an elegant cut out, like the one pictured on the far left. If you are in favor of being adventuresome with your fashion, then make sure you buy at least one cold shoulder item this season.

Oh, and don’t worry about your shoulders being cold…that’s what coats are for!

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All of the cold shoulder styles pictured here are available on our online store. Shop now.